Traveling bag



A. S. BELBER May 28, 1935.

TRAVELING BAG Filed April 7, 1954 TTRNEY Patentgd May 28, 1935 TRAVELING BAG Aaron S. Belber, Woodbury, N. J.

Application April 7, 1934, Serial No. 719,572

Claims.

This application is for an improvement over the disclosure in my prior pending application Serial No. 623,595, filed July th, 1932.

The invention relates to hand luggage such as 5 suitcases, traveling bags and the like, and has for its general object the provision of a rigid type bag having laterally expansible sides capable of moving outwardly for the purpose of increasing the capacity.

It is well known that it has been heretofore customary to construct suitcases and hand bags of similar form with lateral extensions involving bellows folds connecting the side walls with the body to provide an expansible container, which, of necessity, would have to be fitted with encircling straps for the purpose of retracting the lateral extensions in accordance with the volume of the material packed in the bag or suitcase. This old and well known type of hand bag, such as the Gladstone, having side sections involving bellows folds is subject to the objection that after repeated use the bellows folds become distorted and frequently are forced outwardly beyond the planes of the bag walls so that a bulgy and most unsightly appearance results. Moreover the uncontrolled flexing of the bellows folds is apt to cause rapid wear upon and deterioration thereof.

It is with these facts in view that I have devised the present invention which has for a very important object the provision of a suitcase or other hand bag of the rigid type having equally rigid side walls connected to the body by bellows folds, springs being located within and straddling the folds for the purpose of drawing back or retracting the side walls toward the main body of the bag, these springs resisting expansion of the bag by the material or objects packed therein so that no encircling straps will be necessary and so that the bellows folds will always be maintained in their proper condition and be positively prevented from being flexed outwardly or distorted with the result that they would project beyond the planes of the body of the bag.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a bag of this character in which the bellows folds are entirely concealed and invisible when the bag is empty or packed merely to normal capacity, the folds becoming visible only when the bag is expanded.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hand bag of this character in which the construction is such that normally, that is to say when the bag is empty or packed merely to normal capacity, the expansible or laterally movable sides are actually received within the confines of the main body, the bag consequently at such time having the same appearance as one of the nonexpansible type.

A further object is to provide novel spring means constructed in peculiar form and connected with the body of the bag and the laterally movable sides thereof for normally holding the sides retracted, these springs being of such character as to straddle the necessary bellows folds which connect the sides with the bag body, it being moreover a feature that these springs operate individually and will serve to hold the shape.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a bag or other similar piece of hand luggage embodying these characteristics and yet which will be simple and inexpensive to make, neat and attractive in appearance at all times, positive in its expanding and contracting action, efficient and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages, the invention preferably consists in the details of construction and the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hand bag constructed in accordance with my invention, the

position,

Figure 4 is a sectional perspective view through one edge, and

Figure 5 is a perspective View of one of the springs and its mounting means.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the numerals Ill and II designate the body sections of the bag which in the present instance are represented as formed as relatively rigid rectangular frames hinged together along the longitudinal edges of their bottoms.

The frames are provided with the usual covering of leather or fabric l2 arranged in a manner to be described and are equipped with conventional locking devices I3 and a handle M.

The bottom walls of the frames are preferably reinforced by longitudinally extending strips l5 likewise of relatively rigid material.

These strips are of less width than the bottom wall of the frame sections or in other words terminate short of the outer edges thereof to provide shoulders It. Secured against the inner side of the top of each frame and against the end walls thereof are strips H and I8 which are likewise spaced inwardly from the outer edges of the frames for the purpose of providing abutments alining with the shoulders 15.

The outer sides of the frames are adapted to be closed by means of side walls IQ of relatively rigid material having a leather or fabric covering 28. These side walls are of such size as to fit normally within the outer sides of the frames and to abut against the shoulder l6 and the strips l1 and H! as clearly indicated in Figure 3 when the bag is in empty or normally filled condition.

As it is the object of the invention to permit these sides ii] to move laterally, it becomes necessary to provide a flexible means connecting them with the frames, this means being formed as bellows folds 2i extending inwardly with respect to the bag. Whiie different modes of construction and attachment of these bellows folds might be resorted to, I have shown the leather or fabric covering of the frames as brought over and about the outer edes thereof, as at 22, secured to the shoulder I 5 and the strips l1 and i8, and then itself formed into the bellows folds 2!, the lower one of which is represented as continuing around the lower edge of the adjacent side l9 so as to form the covering therefor. This continuation which forms the covering 20 is represented as passing over the upper edge of the side wall l9 and secured against the rear face thereof. The upper bellows 2! is shown as secured simply against the inner face of the side wall. While this specific construction is shown in detail it is obvious that the bellows need not be integral with the leather or fabric covering of either the rigid frames or of the side walls as it is easily possible to construct the bellows of separate material and simply secure them in place to the previously and separately covered frames and side walls.

For normally maintaining the bag in collapsed position, that is to say with the side walls l9 received within the outer sides of the rigid frames and in engagement with the shoulders H5 and strips H and I3, I make use of retractile springs which, though not necessarily, are preferably of the construction shown. Each of these springs is represented as including a helical elongated body section 23 having extended ends or arms 25 and 25 engaged within loops 26 and 21 attached to the corresponding frames or body sections and the adjacent side walls l9, respectively. As shown. the loops 2E and El are preferably formed of bent and folded sheet metal provided with holes 28 to receive securing rivets or the like by means of which the respective loops are secured to the frame members and side walls. Any desired number of these spring devices may be emplcyecl though except possibly in the case of very large bags it is highly probable that six will suffice for each section of the bag, two being located on top of the bottom wall, two beneath the top wall and one at the intermediate portion of each end wall. The loops 2B of these springs are necessarily secured to the rigid frames constituting the bag sections inwardly of the shoulders l6 and the strips H and !8. The loops 25 secured to the bottom of each section are preferably flat while those attached to the top and the end walls are preferably bent angularly as clearly shown in a Figure 2. The arms 24 and 25 of each spring device are arranged in V form and straddle the bellows folds 2! at the inner faces thereof as clearly shown in Figure 2 so that the spring devices are entirely concealed at all times.

Obviously it is desirable to cover this mechanism and prevent articles within the bag from contacting with the springs and as a consequence I provide some appropriate lining 29 which is glued or otherwise suitably secured to the inner faces of the respective rigid frames and the associated sides Hi, the lining being loosely arranged at the corners of the frames so as not to interfere with expansion and contraction or lateral movement of the sides 15.

Normally the springs hold the sides l9 retracted into the outer portions of the respective rigid frames and under such conditions it will be observed that the sides I9 conceal the bellows folds so that the bag has the same appearance as one of the rigid or non-expansible type. It is also apparent that the springs render it unnecessary to employ any encircling straps for holding the sides in retracted position. The springs are so constructed as to provide sufficient space to receive the bellows folds between the arms without pinching and damaging them. When it is desired to fill the bag beyond its normal prescribed capacity, which is that when the sides are completely collapsed, material and objects may be packed forcibly into the respective sections, thereby forcing the extensible sides l9 outwardly against the tension of the retractile springs, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the packing of the contents being continued, if desired, until the full capacity of each section of the bag is reached and the extensible sections fully distended. If the stowage in the respective sections is short of the full capacity thereof, the side walls l9 are forced outwardly just sufficient to accommodate the contents, the retractile springs serving always to hold the sides i9 firmly against the contents of the sections.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawing it will be apparent that I have thus provided a traveling bag which under normal conditions has just as neat and attractive an appearance as of the conventional or rigid type but which at the same time possesses the advantage of being expansible in order that its capacity may be increased. Owing to the provision of the springs it is clear that the bellows folds will always be maintained in a proper folded condition instead of being permitted to be forced or bulged outwardly as would otherwise occur. Moreover the springs have been constructed in such manner as to avoid chafing the bellows folds and the latter should therefore retain their proper condition and be prevented from deterioration even after prolonged use. It is thought from the above that the construction, operation and advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art without further explanation.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the disclosure is merely an exemplification of the principles involved as the right is reserved to make all such changes in the details of construction as will widen the field of utility and increase the adaptability of the device provided such changes constitute no dcparture from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a. traveling bag, a rigid main or body member, a rigid side adapted to enter the rigid body member, collapsible bellows folds connected with the rigid body member and the side, and spring means connected with the rigid body and the side for normally urging the latter toward the former.

2. In a traveling bag, a rigid main or body member and a rigid side connected with the body member by collapsible bellows folds, separate and distinct spring members secured to the inner surfaces of the rigid body member and the rigid side inwardly of the bellows folds and constantly urging the side toward the body member, the side being of less dimensions than the body member so as to be normally received within the same whereby the bellows folds will be entirely concealed.

3. In a traveling bag, a rigid main or body member and a rigid side connected with the body member by collapsible bellows folds, separate and distinct spring members secured to the inner surfaces of the rigid body member and the rigid side inwardly of the bellows folds and constantly urging the side toward the body member, the side being of less dimensions than the body member so as to be normally received within the same whereby the bellows folds Will be entirely concealed, and abutment means on the interior of the body member for limiting the inward movement of the side with respect thereto.

4. An expansible traveling bag comprising a rigid body member and a rigid side connected by collapsible bellows folds, a plurality of springs secured to the inner faces of the rigid body and to the inner face of said side for urging the side toward the body, said side being of less length and width than the body so as to be normally received within the same, and a plurality of abutment members on the interior of the body member engageable by the side whereby the outer face of the side will be flush with the edges of the body member when in retracted position.

5. An expansible traveling bag comprising a rigid body member, a rigid side of a size to be received snugly within the body member, abutment strips secured on the interior of the body member in spaced relation to the edges thereof to constitute stop means limiting inward movement of the side, collapsible bellows folds connecting the body member and the side and ex tending inwardly with respect to the body member, and a plurality of retractile spring devices secured at one end to the body member and at the other end to the side for normally retaining the side within the body member and for returning it within the body member upon the cessation of an expanding force.

6. An expansible traveling bag comprising a rigid body having an outwardly movable side normally contained within the body member in flush relation to the edges thereof and connected thereto by collapsible bellows folds.

7. An expansible traveling bag comprising a rigid body having an outwardly movable side normally contained within the body member in flush relation to the edges thereof and connected thereto by collapsible bellows folds, and spring members located at a plurality of points and secured to the inner faces of the body member and side in straddling relation to the bellows folds.

8. A traveling bag of the expansible type comprising a pair of sections hingedly connected at their lower edges, each section comprising a rigid body member and a rigid side connected thereto by inwardly extending collapsible bellows folds, a plurality of coil spring devices located at spaced intervals within each section and each secured at one end to the body member and at its other end to the side, said side being of less dimensions than the body so as to be received within the same and normally retained therein by the action of said springs.

9. An expansible traveling bag comprising a pair of sections hingedly connected at one longitudinal edge, each section comprising a rigid frame and a rigid side connected by inwardly extending bellows folds, a reinforcing member secured upon the inner face of the bottom wall of the body in spaced relation to the outer edge thereof, abutment strips secured upon the inner faces of the top and end walls of the body in spaced relation to the outer edges thereof and in alinement with the outer edge of said reinforcing strip, and a plurality of coil spring devices with laterally extended arms secured respectively to the inner sides of the body and the inner face of the side for constantly drawing the side toward the body, said side being of less dimensions than the body so as to be received within the same in engagement with said reinforcing strip and said other strips.

10. In a traveling bag, a main or body member of rigid construction, a rigid side wall for the body, flexible bellows folds connecting said side with the body, and means tending normally to maintain said side closely adjacent the body with said bellows folds collapsed, said means comprising a plurality of spring devices located at the folds and within the same, each of said spring devices being formed as a helix having divergent arms with laterally projected terminal portions, each spring having its axis parallel with the adjacent fold, and a plate-like bearing member secured to each laterally extended portion and secured to the inner surfaces of the body and side respectively, said spring devices being entirely separate and distinct, arranged in spaced relation and unconnected by any common element, whereby said arms constitute the sole connection, other than the folds, between the body member and side wall.

AARON S. BELBER. 

